Gravity-carrier.



C. B. HEBZINGER.

GRAVITY CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.s, 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Witnesses:

CARL B. HERZINGER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

GRAVITY-CARRIER.

Application filed. October 3, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL B. IIERZINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravity- Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gravity carriers, and more particularly-to means for automatically controlling the speed of a gravity carrier of the type adapted to run upon a suspended cable, mono-rail, or the like.

The invention is particularly adapted to make possible a more general use of carriers of this character for transporting ore, lumber, logs, and the like from an elevation or place where there is sufficient grade to cause the carrier to run by gravity. Such carrier systems can be installed in places where it is next to impossible and most expensive to build a railroad. By providing means as a part of a carrier for automatically regulating the speed thereof, under gravity, it is possible to apply the carriers to the trackways, attach the loads thereto, and set them off alone without danger of their attaining a speed which would do damage.

In order that others may thoroughly understand my invention, I have shown one practical embodiment thereof adapted for use on a cable which is, of course, the easiest trackway to be arranged across rough and hilly country. In the embodiment of. the invention used for purposes of illustration, I have shown two different kinds of controlling or retarding devices for the carrier, each of which is actuated by a wheel of the carrier, and each of which acts upon said wheel for the purpose of retarding it, or holding it against too great a speed. Each of said devices is opposed by the air in its movements and an increased speed increases that opposition;

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front, or edge, view of a cable carrier with one form of retarding device applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an edge view of a cable carrier with another form of retarding device applied thereto; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of thesame, showing a load carried.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the carrier here shown comprises a body 1, which may be of any suitable form and material, with two wheels, 2 and 3,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Serial No. 864,715.

adapted to run upon a supporting cable 4. A carrier hook or member 5 is pivotally connected to said body, as at 5, preferably closer to the front wheel 2, as indicated,

upon which the retarding device, hereinafter referred to, operates. In this embodiment of the invention, I have shown a fan or vane 6, attached directly to the axle of the front wheel 2 so as to turn therewith and to be operated thereby. Said vane is mounted at one side of the device so as not to interfere with any supporting devices for the cable 4: on the opposite side of the device. Thus as the device runs down grade the vane 6 is operated so as to beat the air with the result that the front wheel 2 is retarded according to. the speed at which the device is running.

In Figs. 3 and 4, instead of using a vane, I have provided a cylinder A, pivotally scoured to the side of the body 1, substantially as indicated at A, with a piston and piston rod B, connected by means of a crank C with the axle of the front wheel 2, as indicated. The cylinder is provided at its opposite ends with cocks, A A whereby to regulate the passage of the air to and from the cylinder as the piston is operated therein by the crank of the wheel 2.

Thus again I have provided a retarding or controlling means actuated by awheel of the carrier on which it is placed and operating on said wheel to retard the speed of said. device. It is also a, device whose movement is opposed by the air, though any fluid might be used with this form of the invention for retarding the movement of the piston.

I am aware that changes can be made in the embodiments of the invention here shown for illustrative purposes without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim,

1. A gravity carrier of the character referred to comprising in combination with a track-way, a carrier device having one or more wheels adapted to said track-way and adapted to run by gravity only, and a retarding device operatively connected thereing cable, a body provided with one or more 'wheels adapted to run on said cable, opermember pivotally connected to said body,

and a retarding device connected with and operated by the axle of one of said wheels to check the speed of said device, substantially as described.

4:. A gravity carrier system comprising an aerial cable, a'carrier car adapted to run solely by gravity thereon, without other propelling means, means for supporting a load on said carrier car, and means for automatically checking the speed of said car on said cable.

5. A gravity carrier of the character referred to comprising a body without power mechanism, one or more wheels mounted therein and projecting below the same and adapted for a gravity trackway, an elevated gravity trackway, a supporting arm projecting downwardly from said body below said trackway, and means constituting a part of said carrier and operable by the movement thereof to retard the speed of said gravity carrier.

6. In combination with a gravity carrier adapted to be operated solely by gravity, a fan or vane adapted to be driven by said carrier in its movement, whereby it operates as a retarding means to said carrier.

7. In combination with a gravity carrier having one or more carrier wheels, of a 'fan or vane connected with and driven by the axle of one of said wheels, whereby it operates to retard said carrier.

8. A gravity carrier of the character re ferred to comprising in combination with a supporting cable, a body having one or more Wheels'adapted to said cable, a carrier arm projecting downwardly from said body below said cable, and a retarding member connected with and operated by the axle of one of said wheels, substantially as described.

9. A gravity carrier of the character referred to comprising in combination with a supporting cable, a body having one or more carrier wheels adapted to said cable, a depending load-supporting part, and a revolving retarding device connected with and driven by the axle of one of said carrier wheels;

10. In combination with a cable, a carrier adapted to run by gravity thereon comprising a body having one or more carrier wheels adapted to said cable, a load-supporting arm depending from said body at one side of said cable, and a retarding device comprising a fan connected to and driven by the axle of one of said carrier wheels, whereby it operates under speed to retard the movement of said carrier, substantially as described.

CARL B. I-IERZINGER.

In presence 01"i THEODORE G. A. Bonn, CLYDE Evans.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

